Automatic package-feed mechanism



63 ,391 J. A. BUTLER 8 AUTOMATIC PACKAGE FEED MECHANISM Filed April 27 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet l 16 I wlmlmlm IIZL'GJZZTIJ dumaizllflalla Aug. 9,1927. 1,638,391

J. A. BUTLER AUTOMATIC PACKAGE FEED MECHANISM Filed April 27, 19.23 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 9, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES A. BUTLER, OF NEEDHAM, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO PNEUMATIC SCALE CORPORATION, LTD., OF NORFOLK DOWNS, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF msacnusn'rrs.

AUTOMATIC PACKAGE-FEED MECHANISM.

Application filed April 27, 1923. Serial No. 835,166.

This invention relates to automatic package feed mechanism, and is especially adapted for use at the intake end of the intermittently operating package feed conveyor of a J agenberg drum labeler machine. For the purposes of this application I shall show and describe it in such adaptation, but it will be understood, of course, that such treatment is purely illustrative and in no way limiting.

In such a machine as previously constructed, the packages are delivered by a conveyor to a point adjacent the intake end of the intermittently operating feed conveyor of the drum labeler machine. and are then manually transferred from one conveyor to the other by an operative stationed at this point.

According to my present invention such transfer is accomplished automatically by a reciprocating feeder operating in timed relation to the intermittent operation of the feed conveyor of the drum labeler machine, thus not only dispensing with the services of the operative heretofore required for this transfer, but insuring accurate and positive placement of the packageson the feed conveyor.

In my machine, the intermittently operating package feed conveyor is provided at its intake end with a package detector normally disposed in position for depression by each package as it is placed onto said conveyor from the feeder. Each entering package depresses said detector, and in the normal operation of the machine such depression is ineflective. to prevent operation of the feeder. The package will therefore be carried off said detector at the next feed stroke of the conveyor actuating mechanism. When for any reason, however, the advance of the feed conveyor is prevented, as for example upon a failure of the label feed, the package detector will remain depressed by the incoming package, and a safety controlled from said detector will be applied to prevent operation of the feeder.

The feeder will therefore be prevented from operating as long as the advance of the feed conveyor has been prevented and the detector remains depressed, thereby avoiding piling up the packages at the intake end of said conveyor. The arrangement is such, moreover, that the feeder will be prevented from operating if no package has been placed thereon for transfer to the feed conveyor.

If desired, the packages may be placed by hand onthe feeder for automatic transfer to the feed conveyor of the drum labeler instead of being placed directly upon said feeder conveyor, as has been the practice heretofore.

The construction and operation of my invention, together with a selected embodim'ent thereof, which well illustrates the principles involved, is described and shown in the accompanying specification and drawings, throughout which like reference characters are correspondingly employed, and the characteristic features of novelty are particularly pointed out in the appended claims. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side view at the transfer point between the discharge conveyor and the intermittently operating feed conveyor which feeds the packages to the drum' labeler machine and showing an automatic feeder in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a similar view, partly in section, and showing the automatic feeder elevated to project a package onto the feed conveyor of the drum labeler machine.

Fig. 3 a plan view of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Figs. 1 and 2 and showing the automatic feeder prevented from operating by an automatic safety mechanism which is applied whenever a package is disposed in obstructing position upon the feed conveyor of the drum labeler machine, and

Fig. 4 is a section on the line i -48 of Fig. 4 and showing the position of the parts when the automatic safety is applied as in Fig. 4:.

I have indicated at 1 the can delivery way along which the cans C are passed from the can filling and capping machine, and at 2 the can feed way along which the cans are fed to the labeling head of the drum labeler machine after they have been automatically transferred thereto from the conveyor 1.

At its delivery end the conveyor 1 is proend of a plunger 5 which in the embodiment shown is reclprocated at an an le of approximately forty-five degrees to t e plane of the can feed way 2, being guided in a guideway 6 formed in a bracket 7 extending from the frame of said way.

The plunger may be'reciprocated by any suitable motion transmitting connections operating in properly timed relation to the intermittently rotating can feed conve or 2, and as here shown is reciprocated by a orked lever 8 which is mounted upon a transverse rock shaft 9 journaled beneath said platform in said bracket. Loose on the shaft 9 is an arm 10 which is adapted to be contacted by the pawl-carrying lever 14 of the intermittently operable driving mechanism for the can feed chain 15 on the return or non-feeding stroke of said lever whereby to raise the plunger 5 and project the can or packa e resting upon the plunger platform onto t e can feed way 2 where it 1s picked up by the feed lugs 21 of the sprocket chain and passed to the labeling head of the drum labeler machine. Said lever 14 is fulcrumed on the shaft 16 for the feed sprocket 17 of the chain 15 and carries at its upper end a pawl 18 adapted to engage the teeth of a ratchet 19 fast on said sprocket shaft. The opposite end of said pawl carrylng lever 1s connected by a connecting rod 20 with an eccentric on the main cam shaft of the drum labeler machine, whereby said lever s rocked and the pawl caused to engage and feed the ratchet one tooth space at each IGVOIlltlOII of the eccentric.

According to my present invention, I provide an automatic safety 44 for the can transfer plunger 5 controlled by the placement of the cans upon the can feedway 2 and adapted to prevent operation of said plunger whenever the drive for the can feed 15 is discontinued, as by reason of the failure of the label feed.

Under such conditions, it is essential that the cans be prevented from piling up on the can feed chain, as would happen if the plunger were permitted to' continue to operate. The safety 44 has a constant tendency to assume a position wherein it will be actuated by each can as it is placed on the feed chain.

As contemplated herein, the plunger 5 is lowered on the feeding stroke of the awl lever 14 to receive a can from the delivery conveyor 1 and is raised on the return stroke of said lever to project the can onto the feed chain 15, if said chain is clear, but if a can is already disposed in obstructing position upon said chain, the plunger elevatingmechanism will be prevented from functioning and hence the plunger will not be elevated to project another can onto the already obstructed feed chain.

To this end, the safety mechanism consists of a latch 31 normally moving with the pawl lever 14 in its feed and return strokes, a trip finger 22 at the plunger platform 4 automatically tripped by each can as it passes onto the lowered platform from the delivery conveyor 1, a trip finger 44 at the intake end of the can feed way 2 automatically tripped by each can as it is projected onto said feedway 2 from the platform 4 when the feed plunger 5 is raised.

of the dpawl lever 14, but is automatically release by the can as it enters from the delivery conveyor 1 onto the lowered platform 4 of the transfer plunger 5 and presses against the trip finger 22 at said platform, so as not to prevent return of said latch upon the return stroke of the pawl lever. In the normal operation of the machine, the latch 31 is carried downwardly to its original position on the return stroke of the pawl lever and itself acts asa rigidly in terposed connection for transmitting elevating movement from the awl lever 14 to the plun er lever 8 where y the plunger is raise to pro ect the can thereon over onto the feed chain 15. As soon as the pressure of saldcan against. the trip finger 22 is removed, said finger automatically returns to original position to swing the locking dog 29 back into the path of travel of the moving latch 31. 1

The can projected from the lun'ger platform onto the can feedway 2 depresses the tri finger 44 at the intake end of said way, roc ing the dog 48 into the path of travel of the latch 31 but inasmuch as said latch has been returned to its lowered position, the movement of the dog 48 has no latching effect.

On the next feed stroke of the pawl lever 14, the can passes off trip finger 44 and the dog 48 returns to its original position before the latch 31 is swun upwardly sufiiciently high to engage said dog, but said latch will engage the dog 29, which has been returned to latch-engaging position by the release of the trip finger 22, and will remain engaged therewith so long as the trip finger 22 is not actuated by a can from the conveyor 1, and the plunger 5 will therefore remain in its lowered position. This is the normal and ordinary operation of the mechanism when the can feed chain is operating properly,

WVhen, for any reason the drive for the can feed chain is discontinued, the trip finger 44 will remain depressed by the can resting on said finger, and the locking dog 48 remains in the path of movement of the latch 31 and will engage therewith when said latch is again raised on the feed stroke of the pawl lever 14. In a machine of the type involved herein, a ratchet shield 1s automatically interposed between the feed ratchet 19 and pawl 18 whenever it is desired to prevent the drive of the feed chain 15, and hence under the conditions stated, said feed stroke of the pawl lever 14 would be ineffective to advance the feed chain. The dog 48 therefore holds the latch 31 against return with the pawl lever 14.

Upon the return stroke of the pawllever, therefore, the latch 31 is not in position to constitute a rigid connection between saidlever and the plunger lever 8 and the plunger not only will fail to be raised, but the dog 29 will also remain inlatching engagement with the raised latch 31, so as to positively prevent elevation of the plunger. When the drive for the can feed chain is again resumed, the feeding stroke of the pawl lever 14 will carry the can off the trip finger 44, disengaging the dog 48 from the latch 31, and the next can to enter onto the plunger platform 4 will trip the finger 22 to remove the dog 29 from its engagement with said latch. The latch is therefore now free to return to its lowered position upon the return stroke of the pawl lever 14 and to' again act as a rigidly interposed connection between said lever and the plunger lever whereby theplunger may be again elevated and the mechanism resume its ordinary and normal operation.

. As here shown, the trip finger 22 at the lunger platform is disposed through a slot 4 in the vertical end wall of said platform 4 for actuation by each can as it feeds onto said platform from the conveyor 1. Said finger is pivoted at 23 to the guideway for the plunger 5 and is normally urged through the slot 4 into the space intended to be occupied by the can on said platform by a counterweight 24 whereby said finger will be returned promptly to normal position after each actuation.

The locking dog 29 is connected to the trip finger 22 by an arm 26 which is pivoted r at 27 to the can feed way 2, is connected by a link 28 to said dog, and is pivoted at 125 to the trip finger. The dog itself is pivoted at 30 on an extension of the bearing for the rock shaft 9 and is counterweighted, as indicated at 29, so as to normally lie in the path of movement of the latch 31 for engagement with the hook end 35 of said latch whenever the latch is swung up into engageable position relative to said dog.

The latch 31 is pivoted at 32 on an arm 13 which is fast to .the rock shaft 9. As the pawl lever 14 swings forward on the feed stroke of the machine, the arm 10 dicated at 45 to normall which is loose on the rock shaft 9 is also swung forwardly by the counterweight 46 for said arm, being stopped at the limit of its forward throw by a stop pin 47, and

the latch 31 is carried upwardly by a cam 33 on said arm 10 which rides along a cam carries the pin 33 on said arm against a shoulder 34 formed on the latch 31 and through the rigid connection thus afforded the arm 13 to which said latch piece is pivoted and with which the actuating lever 8 for the can transfer plunger 5 is rigid, will swing said lever 8 upwardly to elevate the plunger and project the can thereon over onto the trip finger 44 of the can feed way 2.

The finger 44 is counterweighted, as instand in an elevated position shown in ig. 2; and is pi"- oted at 43 and connected by an arm 42 and link 41 to an arm 40 on a cross shaft 50. The locking dog 48 is pivoted upon said shaft 50 and is counterweighted as indicated at 49 to normally lie out of the path of operation of the latch 31. When the trip finger 44 is depressed, however, said locking dog 48 will be swung into the path of operation of the latch 31, but if the feed of the cans is normal, the latch will not have been raised into posit-ion to engage said dog. The can will therefore be moved off said finger 44 at the next feed stroke pf the lever 14 and the dog r48 will be withdrawn from the path of the latch 31 .before said latch is lifted high enough to engage therewith.

When the drive for the feed chain 15 is for any reason rendered ineffective, as by operation of the label safety mechanism with which machines of the type involved herein are equipped, the trip finger 44. will remain depressed by the overlying can on the feed chain 15 as shown in 4, and the locking dog 48 will remain in the path of the latch 31, so that at the next forward stroke of the pawl lever 14 the latch will be lifted up into position to be engaged by said dog 48. With the latch piece thus engaged, the rearward throw of the pawl lever 14 is ineffective upon the plunger actuating lever 8 and hence the plunger will not be elevated. The locking dog 29 will also be engaged with said latch in this position of the parts.

When the can which is holding the trip finger depressed passes oil said finger by reason of the resumption of the drive for plunger ma the feed chain 15, the locking dog 48 will be disengaged from the latch so thatthe again operate when the latch returns to tie osition of Fig. 2 upon the return stroke of the pawl lever.

In order to prevent the cans from falling out of thecan way 2 as they are projected onto it by the reciprocating plunger, I provide raised shields 60 at the intake end of said way." These shields also guide the can onto the feed chain.

. singly onto said conveyor and a package detector adjacent the intake end of said conveyor for actuation by each package as it is fed onto said conveyor'from said feeder and effective upon such actuation to prevent 'operation of said feeder until the package which actuated saiddetector has been advanced by said conveyor to a position of non-interference relative to said detector.

2. In combination with a package feed conveyor, and an intermittently operating driving mechanism therefor, a package feeder for automatically feeding packages singly onto said conveyor, and operated from said driving mechanism in timed relation to the intermittent operation of said conveyor, and a package detector adjacent the intake end of said conveyor for actuation by each package as it is fed onto said conveyor from said feeder and effective upon such actua tion to prevent operation of said feeder until the package which actuated said detector has been advanced'by said conveyor to a position of non-interference relative to said detector.

3. In combination with a package feed conveyor, 21 package feeder for automatically feeding packages singly onto said conveyor, a safety mechanism for said feeder automatically applied by the presence of a package on said feeder, and a package control adjacent the intake end of said conveyor for actuation by each package as it is fed onto said conveyor from said feeder and effective upon such actuation to apply said safety and prevent a subsequent operation of said feeder until the package which actuated said detector has been advanced by said conveyor to a position of non-interference relative to said'detector.

44 In combination with a feed conveyor, a package feeder for feeding packages singly onto said conveyor, a safety mechanism for said feeder, and a control operatively connected with said safety mechanism and automatically moved by each package as it is fed onto said conveyor into position to prevent release of the safety mechanism and normally automatically withdrawn from said release, preventing position before the feeder is ready to operate'b the passage of the package along said fee conveyor.

5. In combinationwith a feed conveyor, a package feeder for feedin packages singly onto said conveyor, a safety mechanism for said feeder automatically applied by the presence of a package on said feeder, and a control operatively connected with said safety mechanism and automatically moved by each package as it is fed onto said conveyor into position to prevent release of the safety mechanism and normally automatically withdrawn from said release-preventing position before the feeder is ready to operate by the passage of the package along said feed conveyor. 6

6. In combination with a pair of package conveyors disposed at substantially right angles to each other, a reciprocating transfer member disposed at an acute angle to said conveyors for transferring packages singly from one to the other of said conveyors, and a safety mechanism forsaid transfer member automatically applied and removed by each package as it is transferred from one conveyor to the other.

7. In combination with an intermittently operable feed conveyor and its driving mechanism. a reciprocating package feeder operated in timed relation to said conveyor driving mechanism, a safety mechanism for said feeder. and a control operatively connected to said safety mechanism and automatically moved into position to prevent release thereof by each package as it is-placed on said feed conveyor by said feeder and normally automatically withdrawn from said release-preventing position by the passage of the package along said feedconveyor before the package feeder is ready to operate.

8. ln combination with an intermittently operable feed conveyor and its driving mechanism, a reciprocating package feeder low ered on the feeding stroke of said driving mechanism and raised on the return stroke of said mechanism for automatically placing packages singly onto said conveyor, a safety mechanism for said feeder. and a control operatively connected to said safety mechanism and automatically moved into position to prevent release thereof by each package-as it is placed on said feed conveyor by the feeder and normally automatically withdrawn from said release-preventing position by the passage of the package along said feed conveyor on the next stroke of the conveyor driving mechanism and before the package feeder is raised.

9. In combination with an intermittently operable feed conveyor and its drivlng mechanism, a reciprocating package feeder lowered on the feeding stroke of said driving mechanism and raised on the return stroke of said mechanism for automatically placing packages singly onto said feed conveyor, a safety mechanism for said feeder normally applied when said feeder 1s lowered and automatically released by each package as it is placed on said feeder, one of the elements of said safety mechanism when released constituting an interposed rigid motion transmitting connection between the conveyor driving mechanism and said feeder on the return stroke of said mechanism to permit said feeder to be raised, and a control operatively connected to said safety mechanism and automatically moved into position to prevent release thereof by each package as it is placed on said feed conveyor by the feeder and normally automatically withdrawn from said release preventing position by the passage of the package along said feed conveyor on the next feeding stroke of the conveyor driving mechanism and before the package feeder is raised.

10. In combination with an intermittently operable feed conveyor and its driving mechanism, a reciprocating package feeder for automatically placing packages singly onto said feed conveyor, a safety mechanism for said feeder comprising a latch movable into engaging position upon the feed stroke of said conveyor driving mechanism, a dog normally engaged with said latch and automatically disengaged therefrom by the placement of each package on said feeder to permit the latch to return to original position upon the return stroke of the conveyor driving mechanism and the feederto be raised, and a control operatively connected to said safety mechanism and automatically moved into position to prevent release of the latch by each package as it is placed on the feed conveyor by the feeder on the return stroke of the conveyor driving mechanism, but normally automatically withdrawn from such engaging posltion on the next feed stroke of said driving mechanism and before the latch again reaches engaging position.

11. In combination with an intermittently operable feed conveyor and its driving mechanism, a reciprocating package feeder operated from said driving mechanism in timed relation thereto for automatically placing packages singly onto said feed conveyor, a safety mechanism for said feeder comprising a latch movable into engaging position upon the feed stroke of said conveyor driving mechanism, a dog normally engaged with said latch and automatically disengaged therefrom by the placement of each package on said feeder to permit the latch of return to original position upon the return stroke of the conveyor driving mechanism, said latch when returned acting as a rigid interposed motion transmitting connection between said conveyor driving mechanism and said feeder whereby the feeder is raised, and a control operatively connected to said safety mechanism and automatically moved into position to engage said latch and prevent release thereof by each package as it is placed on the feed conveyor by the feeder on the returnistroke of the conveyor driving mechanism but normallyautomatically withdrawn from such engaging position on the next feed stroke of said driving mechanism and before the latch again reaches engaging position.

12. In combination with an intermittently operable feed conveyor and its driving mechanism, a reciprocating package feeder for automatically placing packages singly onto said feed conveyor, a safety mechanism for said feeder comprising a pivoted latch movable into engaging position upon the feed stroke of said conveyor driving mech anism, a dog normally engaged with said latch, a trip actuated by each package as it is placed on said feeder and operatively connected to said dog to disengage said dog from the latch and permit the latch to return to original position upon the return stroke of the conveyor driving mechanism, said latch when returned acting as a rigid interposed motion transmitting connection between said conveyor driving mechanism and said feeder whereby the feeder is raised, and a control operatively connected to said safety mechanism and automatically moved into position to engage said latch and prevent release thereof by each package as it is placed on the feed conveyor by the feeder on the return stroke of the conveyor driving mechanism but normally automatically withdrawn from such engaging position on the next feed stroke of said driving mechanism and before the latch again reaches engaging position.

13. In combination with an intermittently operable feed conveyor and its driving mechanism, a reciprocating package feeder for automatically feeding ackages singly onto said feed conveyor, and a safety mechanism for said feeder comprising a latch moving with the conveyor driving mechanism and a dog normally engaged with said latch and automatically disengaged therefrom by the presence of a package on said feeder.

14. In combination with an intermittently operable feed conveyor and its driving mechanism, a reciprocating package feeder for automatically feeding packages singly onto said feed conveyor, a safety mechanism for said feeder automatlcally applied by the presence of each package on said feeder, and a package-actuated control operatively connected to said safety mechanism and normally ermitt' release of said safety mechanism, but e ective to prevent such release when the drive for said feed conveyor is rendered ineffective to advance the packages therealong.

15. In combination with a feed conveyor, a reciprocating package feeder for automatically feeding packages singly onto said feed conveyor, a safety mechanism for said feeder normally applied when said feeder is in lowered position to prevent operation thereof and automatically released by the placement of each package on said feeder to permit said feeder to be raised, and a control operatively connected to said safety mechanism and automatically moved into position to prevent release thereof by each package as it is laced on the feed conveyor by the feeder, ut normally automatically withdrawn from such position by the removal of the package which actuated it before the packagLeIa1 feeder is ready to be raised.

16. combination with an intermittently I operable feed conveyor and its driving mechanism, a reciprocating package feeder and motion transmitting connections between the driving mechanism for the feed conveyor and said feeder for normally actuating said feeder in' timed relation to the intermittentdrive of said feed conveyor and including a package-controlled latch for said feeder normally automaticall engaged and released at each complete cyc e of the mechanism and when released acting as a rigid interposed part of the motion transmitting connections etween the conveyor driving mechanism and the feeder.

17. In combination with an intermittently operable feed conveyor and its driving mechanism, a reciprocating package feeder, and motion transmitting connections between the drivin mechanism for the feed conveyor and said feeder for intermittentl said feeder in timed relation to t e drive of said feed conveyor and includin a latch for said feeder normally automatically aplied by each packageas it is placed on the eeder to act as a rigid interposed part of the motion transmitting connections between the conveyor driving mechanism and the feeder.

18. In combination with an intermittently operable feed conveyor and a pawl and ratchetdriving mechanism therefor, including a pawl, lever, a reciprocatin package feeder, a latch raised upon the fee ing stroke of thepawl lever and lowered upon the return stroke of said lever, a dog normally engaged with said latch upon the feeding stroke of the pawl lever to lock the feeder in lowered position, a trip operatively connected with said dog and actuated by-each actuatingpackage as it is placed on the lowered feeder to disen age said dog from said latch before the paw? lever begins it return stroke, a second dog normally disposed out of the path of movement of said latch, a trip 0 eratively connected with said second-name dog and actuated by each package as it is laced on the feed conveyor by the feeder at t e return stroke of the pawl lever to move said second named dog into the path of said latch for en; gagement therewith if the latch is raised whereby to prevent the latch from returning to lowered position upon the return stroke of said pawl lever but normally automaticonnection interposed between said pawl lever and said feeder whereby to raise said feeder, a dog normally engaged with said latch upon the feeding stroke of the pawl lever to lock the feeder in lowered position, a trip operatively connected with said do and actuated by each package as it is placed on the lowered feeder to disengage said dog from said latch before the pawl lever begins its return stroke, a second dog normall disposed out of the path of movement 0 said latch, a trip operatively connected with said second-named dog and actuated by each package as it is placed on the feed conveyor by the feeder at the return stroke of the pawl lever to move said second-named dog into the path of said latch for engagement therewith if the latch is raised whereby to prevent the latch from returning to lowered from latch-engaging position on the next' feed stroke of the pawl lever by the removal of the package which actuated said trip.

20. In combination with an intermittently operable feed conveyor and its drivin mechanism, a reciprocating feeder, a me shaft operatively connected with said feeder and having a loose arin and a fast arm, said loose arm disposed in the path of the driving mechanism for the feed conveyor for actuation thereby, a latch pivoted to said fast arm, a cam on said loose arm engageable with said latch to lift said latch upon movement of the loose arm upwardly at the feeding stroke of the conveyor driving mecha-' normally engaged with said latch when said latch is lifted, but automatically disengaged therefrom by the actuation of a package upon said trip, a secondtrip disposed adjacent the feed conveyor for actuation b each package as it is placed thereon b sai feeder, a dog operatively oonnecte with said second-named trip and movable into the path of said latch upon actuation of said secondnamed trip for enga ement with the latch if said latch is raised ut normally automati- I cally withdrawn-from latch-engaging position on the next feed stroke of the conveyor driving mechanism by the removal of the package which actuated said trip.

In testimony whereof I afiixmy signature.

JAMES A. BUTLER. 

